Summer Movie Preview: The 50 Indies You Must See (Part 2)

Indiewire's epic summer movie preview continues today with part 2 of our 5 part series highlight 50 indie films we think you should see this summer. Head back over to part 1 for a full introduction and the first batch of films (which, like below, are listed in alphabetical order).

Why is it a "Must See"? This appears to be the summer that indie film goes genre, with Jared Moshe's microbudget, naturalistic Western "Dead Man's Burden" fitting in nicely beside "Ain't Them Bodies Saints" as a new revision to the genre. Shot by Robert Hauer on 35mm, the film is filled with sweeping, gorgeous visuals of its Civil War south setting, earning a great deal of praise when it debuted at the LA Film Festival. Starring a trio of indie-approved character actors, the slow burning "Burden" should hopefully breath some life into the Western filmmaking. [Mark E. Lukenbill]

Why is it a "Must See"? When the cast for mumblecore vet Joe Swanberg's newest film leaked this summer, it certainly raised a lot of questions. Had the ever-prolific Swanberg ("Hannah Takes the Stairs") finally gone Hollywood? Not exactly. Even with its starry, game cast and the presence of "Beast of the Southern Wild" cinematographer Ben Richardson, "Drinking Buddies" remains perfectly Swanberg. Following the intertwining relationships of two juvenile best bud brewery workers, played by Olivia Wilde and "New Girl's" Jake Johnson, "Drinking Buddies" is a fresh and goofy standout in Swanberg's behemoth of a filmography. When it premiered at SXSW most of the accolades were directed at WIlde's comedic performance, which is enough to make you forget that her "Burt Wonderstone" played at the same festival. [Mark E. Lukenbill]

Why is it a "Must See"? Two years after "Another Earth" and "Sound of My Voice" catapulted her to indie-icon status at Sundance, Brit Marling is back with her latest writing-acting effort, "The East." Directed and co-written by her "Sound of My Voice" collaborator Zal Batmanglij, the Fox Searchlight thriller centers on an ex-FBI agent (Marling) who infiltrates an anarchist collective known as The East suspected of attacking corporate CEOs. Once embedded within the group, however, she soon finds herself on their side. [Nigel M. Smith]